October 25, 2022 at 7:52 p.m.
Ceremony honors victims of domestic abuse, aims to raise awareness
Sister Betsy Van Deusen, CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, spoke at a recent dedication ceremony to honor domestic violence survivors and raise awareness of the increased need for Catholic Charities’ Domestic Violence Intervention Services in Montgomery County.
The ceremony was held Oct. 20 in front of Montgomery County’s Department of Social Services. The day included a bench dedication and brief remarks from speakers, including: Jeffery T. Smith, Montgomery County sheriff, Lorraine Diamond, Montgomery County district attorney, Kelley Gilligan, Catholic Charities’ program director for Montgomery County Domestic Violence and Crime Victim Services, and Rosely Tirado, advocate for Montgomery County Domestic Violence and Crime Victim Services.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and raising awareness for this cause is as important as ever, according to Sister Betsy. The Catholic Charities’ CEO is no stranger to the ins and outs of domestic violence shelters. Before joining the non-profit, Sister Betsy worked at Unity House, a domestic violence shelter in Troy.
“Survivors will live with the effects of that violence for years to come, and at Catholic Charities, we are proud to walk alongside them as they seek safety and recovery,” Sister Betsy said. “It is my hope that when survivors see this bench, they know we are here to support them on their journey.”
According to Catholic Charities, the Montgomery Country branch has seen a two-year increase in requests for domestic violence support. In 2019, Catholic Charities of Fulton and Montgomery counties helped roughly 1,372 callers through its domestic-violence hotline. In 2021, the organization fielded 2,000 calls, helping women, children and men with supportive counseling, safety planning, and shelter in a nine-bed safe house in Montgomery County.
“Domestic violence is a growing problem that affects Montgomery County,” Gilligan said. “When I started in this position as program director at Catholic Charities over three years ago, we employed five advocates. We are now staffed with six advocates, and we are hiring a seventh to help with the victims and survivors we serve. It is our hope that this bench is a small reminder of their strength, resilience and bravery.”
Catholic Charities of Fulton and Montgomery counties currently provides counseling, safety planning, legal advocacy, referrals, support groups and access to safe housing. Services are free, confidential, and available to survivors of domestic violence and other crimes. Residents of Fulton and Montgomery counties can access Catholic Charities’ 24-Hour Hotline at (518) 842-3384; residents across New York State can contact the NYS 24-Hour Hotline at 1-800-942-6906; residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can dial 711 for assistance.
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